Nasa Wavelength

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Instructional Strategies

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Climate Kids: How Do We Know the Climate Is Changing?

This question is addressed through a series of questions and answers, each providing related introductory information such as how climate change is studied, the history of Earth’s climate, and the effects of climate change on Earth’s geology and biology.

NASA eClips™: Our World, ICESat-2 Measures Ice Sheets

Why is NASA interested in Earth's ice? The creation of ICESat-2 is allowing NASA's scientists to make accurate maps of polar ice sheets. These maps help them make informed predictions about weather patterns, climate change, and the effects of changing ice structures.

Why Do Some Molecules Absorb Infrared Energy?

In this demonstration activity, students make structural models of gas molecules using pipe cleaners and polystyrene balls and test their molecules for their resonant frequency. Students shake the models, count vibrations, and compare the resonance frequencies of different gases.

Fraction Operations

Students will learn about the Landsat spacecraft and its study of Earth from space through reading a NASA press release. By viewing a NASA eClips™ video segment, students will see how Landsat monitors conditions in the Chesapeake Bay.

Design Challenge - Stacking the Satellites

This is an activity about area and volume. Learners will use fabrication software to determine the optimal size of a satellite which can fit within a given rocket cylinder. To complete this activity, fabrication software is required (an example is suggested in the lesson).

What I Know About the Aurora

In this introductory lesson, students will learn the basics of the aurora through small group discussions, reflection and reading. The lesson includes teacher notes and instructions, student workshops and an online, animated story, and related teacher resources on aurora.

How Can We Compare Maps with Images from Space?

Maps and images are examined, compared and contrasted in this introductory lesson. Beginning with the school building map typically posted in their classroom, students analyze the information it contains, describe its features, and determine its purpose.

Soil Chapter-Soils as Sponges: How Much Water does Soil Hold?

Students determine the moisture content of a sponge after squeezing the water out of the sponge, and allowing water to evaporate from the sponge. Students also measure the amount of water that has evaporated from the soil samples.

Planet Designer: Kelvin Climb

This is an activity about the way distance, albedo, and atmosphere affect the temperature of a planet. Learners will create a planet using a computer game and change features of the planet to increase or decrease the planet's temperature.